I can’t even remember how many times people said that to me. I grew up with my brother so I know how guys roll. Or at least I think I do. I want to believe that I can speak their language. Lol.
For a girl who is close to her guy sibling, it’s not hard to get close to other guys too. In a way, guys are easier to be friends with. Less drama.
Being one of the boys have their advantages but it also gives people different ideas about you. Things that I know a little too well. Others are understandable, others are just a little too ridiculous.

1. Every guy you hang out with is either a boyfriend or a date

Being one of the boys mean you hang out with guys more than you hang out with girls. Going to dinner with a guy is a normal Saturday night. For us anyway. Just because a girl and a guy is seen together does not mean they’re “together”.. It’s just dinner. People eat. We’re people. Ergo, it’s just dinner.

2. You are either a lesbian or a flirt

My mother thought I was a lesbian at some point of my highschool life since I was wearing baggy jeans, shirts that are 3x my size and was always hanging out with guys. Her favorite line was… “Tomboy man ka!”
“You are a tomboy…” (In the philippines, tomboy and lesbian is the same thing for most people)
If you’re not a tomboy, you’re a flirt. Since I proved that I was straight due to my 6-year long term relationship with a guy, people thought I was such a flirt. That comment pissed me off when I was younger but looking back, it’s so ridiculous. I didn’t even know I knew how to flirt. I guess people thought I did. Awesome.

3. People ask you why it never worked out with a friend. Or friends.

People asked me this about 4 of my close guy friends.
“Why didn’t you become a couple?” “We’re just friends.”
“But you are sooo close.” “We’re just friends.”
“You’re always hanging out and you look good together..” “We’re just friends.”
“You can be a couple if you chose to..” “We’re just friends.”

You don’t need to have a romantic relationship with all the guys that you are close with. If that’s the case, girls who are one of the boys will be 3-timers or even 5-timers. C’mon.

4. Your guy friends talk like you don’t exist. Or you’re not an actual girl.

My guy friends talk with no sensors when I’m with them. Seriously, no sensors. No filters. They’ll talk about their sexcapades like no girl is in the room. It makes you feel appreciative that they are so candid with you around but sometimes it’s insulting when they talk nasty about girls. It’s hair-standing-on-end kind of moment too when they go into the details.. What’s worse is when they talk about girls that you actually know. Guys talk. Trust me.

5. Girlfriends get jealous of you and vice versa

I didn’t know this until my close guy friend revealed that 4 out of 5 of his girlfriends was actually jealous of me. They had no reason to be.
When this happens though, I distance myself out of respect for the girl but they usually confess during breakups. Great. One of my guy friends who change girlfriends about every other month already has a script. When a girl says yes to him, he tells the girl about me and how she doesn’t have to be jealous and then introduces me to the girl. Same goes when I have a boyfriend. Orientation is a must.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it backfires. How? Go back to # 1… 🙂

These are just a few things that has happened to me for all the years that I have been me. Meaning, all my life.
It’s fun being one of the boys but sometimes it’s not worth the argument with loved ones. Explaining is just too exhausting sometimes.

What I believe though, if a guy truly loves you, he’ll accept you for who you are. You need not explain being you. Guys who truly love you would understand that they’re not the only guy in your life.. 🙂

Let’s go back to the basics. Definition. I feel like I’m making a thesis right now.
Okay. THis is what Wikipedia says…Dating is a part of human mating process whereby two people meet socially for companionship, beyond the level of friendship, or with the aim of each assessing the other’s suitability as a partner in an intimate relationship or marriage.
Human Mating. Excuse me while I crack up! Di mada ui!
In English, I can not! hahaha

Let’s get back on track here… Sorry about that.
This blog is about the lessons I learned about dating or my do’s and don’ts when going out.

Just to give you a short background so you can at least say that this blog does have some credibility to it;
I had more than 50 guys and 2 girls who asked me out and wanted to court me. I know because they literally asked.
Too many? I agree. Again, they asked. I didn’t say yes to all of them of course. I only said yes (to the dating, not actual relationship) to around 20-25%.
How do I know? I actually have a list. Yes, an actual list. I started when 3 guys asked me out at the same time (also said NO to all 3) and just kept adding to the list until about 5 years ago. Last count was 53 or 54.

You might be thinking that I play around and this is only for the girls of “my kind” (independent, strong women who knows how to have a good time… lol)
Uhmm.. no. I love love. And I love being in a relationship. I had 3 long ones. 6 years, 3 years and 1.8 year.. All who proposed/ was about to propose to me in one way or another… (I know, I’m a catch. haha) I won’t get into the details but I want you to know that I don’t play around when it comes to relationships.
(Hmmm… next blog might be how to get a guy to propose to you. ;p )

You might think as well that “oh.. she’s so liberated.. Filipinas are not like that. ” etc.. etc.. I don’t know about the liberated part but I do know this, I’m just saying what everybody else is thinking and are secretly doing. I call that guts.
I’m actually proud of what the women in the Philippines have become when it comes to dating. They have embraced the girl power. They know that they have control over what happens to a date and where it can go. They know that a NO MEANS NO. You’re also reading this right now because you want to learn a thing or two.

Dating doesn’t have to be too serious. On the contrary, it should be fun! Just because you’re on a date with a guy, it doesn’t mean that you have to analyze and imagine how many children you guys will be having..
That leads me to…

1. Do Chill

It’s a date. Just a date. Just because you’re in on one, does not mean the guy likes you, likes you. It means that he asked you out because he found you interesting and wants to know you more. If it leads to a second date, good. If not, well, free meal! And that’s always a good thing.

2. Do have an open mind

Guys don’t really think about how one of your nail has a little chipped polish or how a strand of your hair is out of place. Neither should you. You’re not perfect and so is the guy you’re sitting across from! This guy will reveal a lot of things about himself on the first date and so will you. Don’t judge him based on his past experience or if he happens to say a word that you hate. Have an open mind. That conversation or date should not define who they are.

Don’t be a sourpuss or a pampered princess. Be spontaneous! Your plan was to eat at a 5-star restaurant but your date only has 200php? Eat at a pungko2x in your heels and cocktail dress! Why not?

3. Do date more than one guy (at least try it once)

Uh-oh… hey it comes.. the liberated speech from Maria Claras everywhere..
Here’s why I think you should do this: it’s just a date.
You’re not trying to have a relationship with these guys.
Not yet anyway.
If you have a chance to get to know more than one guy, why not? Isn’t meeting and knowing a lot of people a good thing?
I have a disclaimer though… You only do this if you’re just dating. If you want a relationship with a guy that you’re seeing, don’t add another one to the list. You only date multiple guys if you haven’t decided to move forward with any of them yet.
I’m making myself clear, right?

4. Don’t be jealous

I can’t say this enough. You’re just dating. He’s not your boyfriend! Don’t expect that he’s only dating you. There might be other girls. And if there are, it’s totally fine. You’re dating other guys too, right? Unless you’re exclusive, then that does not give you the right to be bitchy when he’s dating someone else. BUT….. if he is texting her while he’s on a date with you, ditch his ass! Your mere presence should be enough to catch his attention and keep it.

5. Don’t expect anything

No expectations. This is one of the best advice a close guy friend gave me about dating. Since he and his date both have no expectations from each other, they are having the time of their lives! They have fun and giddy moments are always there. When they do something special for one another, it’s always appreciated because they never really expect it. Best part? No pressure. This makes falling inlove even better because it just happens. You don’t force yourself to fall for a guy just because you’re dating him.

Here’s a good one. My friend is falling for the girl he’s dating (he doesn’t want to admit this). He used to date multiple girls too but this girl is just special. You can see it when he talks about her. Because of that, he just stopped seeing other people even when he is encouraged. See? Dating more than one person is not a bad thing. That’s when you’ll know who’s really special. The girl is totally falling for him too… she told me, so I know.. (I hope he doesn’t read this). Ego boost! ;p

6. Don’t put out

Yes, he’s attractive. Yes, you like him. Yes, he makes you laugh. But pls. don’t. We’re not Americans. We don’t have the 5th date rule ( sleeping with him on the 5th date is acceptable ) No, it’s not. The only time it’s okay to sleep with a guy if you’re officially a couple. Maybe not even then. Values is what makes us who we are. If we don’t stand for anything, we fall for everything. You have to remember that even when we are open-minded, we’re still Filipinas. If they really love you, they will understand that a no means no.

Premarital sex is an issue in our country that I don’t even want to get into. All I’m saying is that, we can’t control everybody and they do what they do. My point, do it because you love the person. Just make sure it’s official. It’s better if he puts a ring on it though. (If you know what I mean..)

So there you have it!
I hope I was able to help, maybe even raise a few eyebrows but hey… That’s what I learned over the years.
I think I was a guy in my past life. OH well..

They say it’s what makes the world go round. I think it’s the sun’s gravitational pull that makes the earth spin but I guess that’s just me.
Whatever love is, one thing’s for sure though.. Everybody needs it.

Question is, from whom?

We have that person in our lives whom we loved so much, would do anything for and they just crushed our heart to pieces. We want them back and if they don’t, we move on.
But what if you were on the verge of moving on, met someone new and that’s when they come back? Great timing!

Do we go back to the love that we knew? Or take a risk with someone new?

OLD

They know you. You know them. Well, until they broke your heart and treated you like crap (I sound so bitter. Excuse me). There’s so much history and so many lovely memories. You know you still love the person and you still hope that things will return to the way they were. You continue to hope that things will play out the way it should after the pause.

What if it doesn’t?

NEW

They give you the butterflies. Oh, the sweet giddy feeling you get when you get a text from them. You learn something new about them everyday and you just want to know more. You don’t love them yet, no. But you know it’s not hard to get there. If you do become a couple, will it last? Or will it end with another heartbreak?

This isn’t the part where I give you the answers. I wish I could but I can’t.
I just might be as clueless as you are.
We all have these questions in mind. We even get to the point where we list the pros and cons or simply toss a coin to decide.

Life is full of surprises that sometimes it knocks you off your feet and it’s not even funny.
Whatever decision we make, it affects our future and that’s where the pressure comes in.

Conclusion?

Whatever we decide to do, let’s learn to be happy. No regrets. Just lessons.
I know it’s not what you wanted to read but hey, if you do have the answers, let me know…

“Everybody deserves a second chance..” Hmmm…
I heard this saying about a million times already and I’ve even said it myself.

But does it really apply to everybody? How do you give the person who broke your heart into pieces, stumped on it and burned it, a second chance?
Yes, you can give anybody and everybody that but do they deserve it?

Don’t they deserve the same treatment that your heart got?
Okay, maybe not the burning part just a little laxative on their soup-kinda treatment.

Main point is, how would you know that they deserve it and they’re ready for it?
I’m not an expert on love or relationships. But I do know a thing or two when someone made a mistake, is really sorry about it and wants to make it up to you.

So here is a very short list that I’ve come up with to know if they deserve your sweet “yes” again.

1. They ask for your forgiveness

Not just ask for it, they should beg for it. It doesn’t matter what they did to break your heart. The important thing is they know and acknowledge their mistakes and is really sorry for what they did. If they just want you back without apologizing, that is not a good sign. Pride much?
You have an advantage at this point. THEY want you back, not the other way around (even when you secretly want them back too).
First thing’s first, they have to apologize. Period.

2. They give you an explanation

You don’t always need it but you deserve it. You deserve to know why they did what they did. If they can’t give you an explanation, you’re not obliged to listen to anything they promise you. If they deserve that chance, they’ll give you answers.

3. They want to make it up to you

Apologizing and giving you an explanation is not enough. They need to make up for what they did. At this point, it’s your own judgment. You need to see the effort that they put in to make things work. You need to see their actions and not just hear their words of sweet nothings. He tells you he’ll change yet he continues to flirt with other girls… Really? Wrong move, dude.

4. They’ll do anything to make you trust them again

If a third party was the reason for the break-up, this would involve an awful lot of effort on their part. It won’t be easy to trust them again. It never will be. Sometimes, you even get paranoid to the point of insanity (stalker mode). Please don’t. It’s more destructive than you think. They should be the one to put in the effort not to stress you out. They should be the one to show you that you can trust them again. Not third-party related break-up? They need to show you that they won’t give up on you or your relationship ever again. At this point, you need to be sensitive to what they are doing to gain your trust back.

“A BOY makes his girl jealous of other women. But a MAN makes other women jealous of his girl”

5. All they want is to see you happy

Yes, they want you back but if you don’t want the same thing, they accept it. They know that they’ve hurt you and it won’t be an easy journey. When all they want is for you to be happy even when it doesn’t involve them; if they are in the stage that your happiness is more important than their own; then I say they deserve that second chance. A selfless act and intention deserves a reward, don’t you think?

Whatever we go through in life, I believe that we give to others what we want for ourselves. If you were in their shoes, do you want to get a second chance as well? Then if the answer is yes, you go on ahead and be happy… and give them that chance that they obviously deserve.

Besides, they always say that Love is sweeter the second time around. Might as well see for yourself. 🙂

I have done quite a few company events which as of the moment is my specialty; from team building, to leadership training and all that. But of course, I want to be more creative so I’m entering the wedding scene (really need to be careful what we wish for).

At first, I was so excited and I had all these ideas especially since the wedding is a garden wedding at sunset. Cmon! That’s as romantic as holding hands while walking on the beach or watching the starry night together or eating a string of spaghetti till your lips meet… Like I said, It’s romantic.

But……..
We all know there’s a but.

The time of the wedding changed. So now, it will be a morning wedding.

From overly creative to a blank page. I’m talking about my brain by the way…

The wedding’s motif is fern green which was okay.. but now that it will be in the morning, all I can see is the grass.. the damn flowers will blend right in. Like grass.

Morning- no need for lights, so no light effects (sun is a natural light- of which I wish I can turn off..)
Morning- too hot (guests will be sweating like pigs in a microwave)
Morning- wanted to create a tunnel as entrance ala secret garden style (too dark for entrance and too bright for lights to be emphasized; so there goes that idea )

So you see why I’m stuck?

But thanks to google, I did find a few ideas.
And these websites are amazing too. Real unique.

Let me see here.. oh, here’s one:
* http://www.weddingwire.com/ – a lot of ideas to choose from and the site can help any couple organize their wedding

Everything is back to normal. No more diabetic-causing chocolates, no more thorny roses or itchy stuffed toys. Kidding. I love Valentine’s day. Everybody seems to be…. floating. Yes, that’s the word, floating.
I see people smile and greet strangers just because it’s Valentine’s day. Where did this all come from anyway? So, my curiosity and the internet got me this..

Apparently, 1 story states (choosing the most interesting) Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl–possibly his jailor’s daughter–who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and–most importantly–romantic figure.

Well there you go. Girls all over the world need to thank this guy. But don’t we find it weird that it’s mostly girls that get spoiled on this special day? It’s a day for couples yet girls get more out of it than guys. Materially speaking.

Anyway, you really didn’t think I’d end a blog without sharing my Valentine experience did you?
I’m a girl. Well, a woman for that matter.. and you guessed that right. I was spoiled. But the great thing about my day was that I did not just spend it with my loved one, I got to spend it with my family and friends as well.

Here it goes…

Feb. 14, 201312:00mn

My boyfriend stopped me from whatever I was doing, played “Far Away” from Nickelback on the itunes and asked me to slow dance with him. It was one of the most romantic 5 minutes of my life. Valentine’s day is looking pretty good.

5:30am

Got bored so I prepared coffee and cookies over candlelight. Because candlelight dinner is too mainstream so we opted for a candlelight snack instead.

1pm

You probably figured out I have a night job so I usually wake up at this hour and lo and behold, I woke up to this sweet display. You know what I thought when I saw this? Ice cream for breakfast? alright!!! hehe

5pm

My brother and I had a misunderstanding and I haven’t talked to him for weeks. It is the love day after all.. So I went to his Tattoo shop and gave him a single long-stem rose. See? Girls are not the only ones that need to be spoiled. So of course, we hugged and made up (after bawling our eyes out- so damn emotional!).
We also treated our mom to dinner where we gave her a bouquet of red roses.
Fine. Everybody is getting spoiled today.

After buying a couple’s shirt (we’re corny that way…), my boyfriend and I bought a pack of chocolates and gave them out to total strangers in the mall while greeting them a happy valentine. Seeing their shock and smile (yes, that’s in sequence) made the day even more special for us. Getting spoiled. I did say everybody right?

7pm

Dinner and drinks with friends and their partners was a good way to end the night. We even surprised our boys with the set-up (thanks to my friend Abigail’s efforts). They had no idea that we planned it out. My boyfriend kept asking me when we planned it, how we planned it and how we got away with it.

Boys, just because you’re with your girlfriends almost 24hrs a day does not mean we can’t get away with secrets. Trust me. We can. And we did.
It was a perfect ending to a perfect day.

So there you go. That was my Valentine’s day… I’m hoping Valentine’s day 2014 will top that.

But I do wish that we spread love not just on the 14th of February but everyday of our lives.